Hi all, Im new here and just getting started with my diet. Just found out I am O- and trying to learn all I can.

I have been suffering from chronic vertigo, particularly in the last few years. Last October, I had it for 33 days straight. Went to a doctor, who sent me to an ENT specialist who pretty much called me a liar and didnt treat me. (He also didnt get paid) I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem, and if changing to the blood type diet has helped. If not that, has anyone found an herbal supplement that works? Im not really interested in prescription meds unless its absolutely necessary. Its very hard to drive and work, or get good sleep when I feel drunk

If yours is caused simply by poor dietary choices, then, certainly your compliance to your diet will help clear up the matter. I just wanted you to know there can be MANY reasons for dizziness. See a good chiropractor or naturopath; and WELCOME to the blood type diet

Thanks Enobattar. I am currently on my first 90 days of my new job, so no health insurance just yet. I had thought about seeing a chiro, but I had a bad experience with the one in my area several years ago (he broke one of my lumbar vertebrae) so Ill have to look for one elsewhere--provided this insurance covers it.

Hi all, Im new here and just getting started with my diet. Just found out I am O- and trying to learn all I can.

I have been suffering from chronic vertigo, particularly in the last few years. Last October, I had it for 33 days straight. Went to a doctor, who sent me to an ENT specialist who pretty much called me a liar and didnt treat me. (He also didnt get paid) I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem, and if changing to the blood type diet has helped. If not that, has anyone found an herbal supplement that works? Im not really interested in prescription meds unless its absolutely necessary. Its very hard to drive and work, or get good sleep when I feel drunk

Any help is appreciated, thank you!

(((HUG))): I've had vertigo. I am so sorry you went to such a jerk of an ENT. A good one would NOT have called you a liar, and would have done diagnostic tests (basically, putting you in different positions and motions to see if they induce vertigo and which ones induce the vertigo, and possibly other tests) to see if it is benign positional vertigo (BPV), which is the most common type of vertigo. If it is, the great news is that there have been huge, HUGE advances made in the treatment of this in just the last few years, and there are places that specialize in these treatments, which are non-invasive, non-surgical, don't involve drugs, and basically involve putting you through complex and fascinating tests (again, different positions and motions, but with specialized googles on that are hooked up to computers, so the doctors can look into your eyes, and also put you through some eye tests during and immediately after certain positions/motions, and figure out precisely where your ear crystals have moved to that they shouldn't be. Let me back up: we all have "otoconia" (fine crystals, basically) in our ears, in a complex labyrinth system of tubes in there. When the crystals are where they are supposed to be, they serve a very important purpose in life: keeping us balanced, oriented in space, knowing which way is up, down and sideways. Sometimes, though, these crystals move from where they should be in our ear labyrinth into other places in it, where they don't belong and where they cause disorientation and imbalance. This can happen during/because of an ear infection, or other reasons. Now, there can be other causes of vertigo, some of them very serious (which is why it is important to go to a GOOD ENT to get properly diagnosed, and then if it is BPV, he or she will refer you for the treatment I'm about to describe--or perform it him/herself, as some of them can), but MOST vertigo is this benign positional vertigo (BPV) caused by these dern crystals moving out of place. And the great news is that this is now simply, easily and EFFECTIVELY treated/CURED! Once they put you through all the testing and figure out exactly (which they can) where your crystals are located within your ear labyrinth, they simply perform a series of simple positional movements on you--just moving you around, NOT like a chiropractic adjustment, but just actually moving you in a very specific series of motions/positions, in specific sequences, that work with gravity to get your ear crystals back into place, yay!

What you need to do, sweetie (I feel so bad for you, having had this--but again, please take heart because it IS going to be okay--you just went to a jerky doctor), is find a GOOD ENT and tell him or her, if he or she does diagnose you with BPV, that you want to be referred to one of the new centers that specialize in balance/vertigo/equilibrium disorders, to be treated with either the "Gans Manuevers" or a related type of therapy based on the same principle of figuring out where the crystals are and simply moving them back into place. Here is a link to the WONDERFUL (best medical care I ever received) place that the ENT I went to referred me to. I'm so blessed, because I happen to live near one of these centers for balance disorders, which is called The American Institute of Balance (and they have locations elsewhere in the country, too). I cannot even say enough about how great they are. They fixed me! The statistics on this type of treatment are very, very heartening. It is something like 90% of those treated are cured, but within 5 years it does come back in some people, BUT then after a second treatment, it usually never comes back. And it is so simple and safe!

For most of human history, vertigo was a terrifying and debilitating health challenge. But now, while it is still terrifying (until you know what it is/what is happening and what to do about it...and even then, it ain't fun--if I get it again, I'll be upset, yet I know I'll be fine as long as I can get myself to that balance place again and get the treatment) the first time and until you know what it is and how to deal with it, it is very, very CURABLE, not just treatable, so please take heart, read the link below, find a good ENT near you and go from there.

Thanks Enobattar. I am currently on my first 90 days of my new job, so no health insurance just yet. I had thought about seeing a chiro, but I had a bad experience with the one in my area several years ago (he broke one of my lumbar vertebrae) so Ill have to look for one elsewhere--provided this insurance covers it.

Definitely wait for your health insurance to kick in before doing what I recommend above, as while the treatment is totally covered by most insurance, it is EXPENSIVE if you don't have insurance!!!

So sorry you are going through this. I really, REALLY empathize. Just know that there is a cure, if what you have is indeed benign positional vertigo and not something else causing the vertigo. Hang in there!

"If you are on one of Dr. D's diets and it isn't joyful, you aren't doing it right."- moi

In the meantime, and since your in NC. I would check on allergies. I have this problem whenever the humidity is up. I feel fine but can't walk a straight line. I hate to say this but try a Antihistamine and see what happens.

Thanks Enobattar. I am currently on my first 90 days of my new job, so no health insurance just yet. I had thought about seeing a chiro, but I had a bad experience with the one in my area several years ago (he broke one of my lumbar vertebrae) so Ill have to look for one elsewhere--provided this insurance covers it.

Don't let having or not having insurance hold you back. I've never been able to claim for a chiro visit, but find the $28-32.00 per visit worth it! But, yes, you have to find a good one! Ask your friends or search your phone book, call and ask questions. We have always sought out the ones who use pressure instead of cracking (except when absolutley necessary). And find one that will put his/her hands on you. Even some chiropractors can make you feel you are 'one of the herd', just quickly click, click, clicking you and not taking the time to simply talk over and listen to you.

I'm pretty sure C-Sharp or someone else on this board has shared a website where Dr. D. lists doctors throughout the world that practice medicine his way. What a GREAT place to start!

I am a hugely passionate proponent of chiropractic, and also of naturopathic docs who are oriented towards Dr. D's work, but for vertigo, she really needs to go to a GOOD otolaryngologist (ENT) as a starting point. He or she can properly diagnose whether this is BPV (benign positional vertigo), which it likely is, as that is the most common cause of vertigo (and, if it is BPV, then the doc should refer her for the treatment I describe in my first post, or do it him/herself), or if it is something more serious needing a different type of specialist/different tests, etc.

I actually went to my chiro at the time, the first time I experienced vertigo, because I didn't have a primary care doctor and it took a while to get an appointment, and meanwhile, I had a regularly scheduled appt. with my chiro. Getting on the table for the adjustment induced an episode and he did a quick and simple eye test on me and saw the characteristic eye movements associated with vertigo going on. So far, so good, but then he decided to do a weird treatment on me called short-wave diathermy, which as Dr. D. later commented, was basically like microwaving my head! It not only didn't help, it made me really bizarrely ill for the rest of that evening and fast forward to years later (now) and I wonder if it had anything to do with causing my pulsatile tinnitus (not regular tinnitus, this is something diff which I won't bore youzzz with the details of at the present juncture). ANYWAY, a good chiropractor is worth his or her weight in gold and I can't say enough about what chiropractic has done for me, for my back, omg. But for vertigo? Again, a GOOD (and ask around to find a really good one) ENT is the first stop, in my strong opinion.

edited to add: P.S. Many primary care docs are USELESS re vertigo (though some are up on things and know what to do/who to refer to). Again, I can't stress this enough--and I am NOT a fan of ENTs, in general, though thank God I'm blessed to have found a really good one down here: a good, caring, competent, up-to-speed on the latest and greatest treatment protocol for vertigo ENT is the way to go here. When PT, of all people, recommends going to an ENT, you know going to an ENT must be indicated, as again, I'm not a fan/I've had BAD life experiences with them, suffice it to say. But when it comes to vertigo, thank GOD I finally found a good one and thank GOD he refered me where he did, and far from being a bad experience, it was amazing, and so heartening to realize that sometimes, doctors are good and can FIX ya versus break ya.

"If you are on one of Dr. D's diets and it isn't joyful, you aren't doing it right."- moi

Peppermint, I have heard of these positional treatments before, but I had some skepticism. At this point, though, Im ready to try anything. I cant even get my workouts in because of it; I lift weights, and without a good balance, severe injury is possible. I have found that some ginger ale seems to help a bit, so Im doing that for now.

deblynn, I take an antihistamine every day. I have chronic and dermatographic hives, and this helps to keep them in check so I dont break out as often. I had also had a health food store owner recommend it, as well as Gingko and ginger.

Enobattar, I can barely even afford gas right now. After two months, all my savings is gone from where I wasnt working, and I have $50 to my name lol I wont get paid for two weeks, since they have a one-week offset on the paychecks like so many companies do; I start work on Monday.

In the meantime, and since your in NC. I would check on allergies. I have this problem whenever the humidity is up. I feel fine but can't walk a straight line. I hate to say this but try a Antihistamine and see what happens.

Woke up this morning feeling better. Ive been sipping on some ginger ale, since its cheaper than the ginger pills (for now). Anti-histamines do not affect me in any way, nor do they help with the vertigo. And my worst case of it was in October last year, so it was already cool. I dont believe it has anything to do with the weather.

I am not drinking much of it, C_sharp. It does have HFCS, but its real ginger. $1 vs $7+ for ginger right now is my problem. Ive been out of work for two months, and I wont get my first paycheck for two weeks. Im stretching $50 until then, so Im having to make sacrifices. I havent started the BTD in full swing because of the money, too. Im stuck eating sandwiches right now, but as soon as I get paid I am restocking my house with all the things I need. And that includes ginger capsules

Wise Water - every morning, I put some freshly boiled water in thermus flask, add quarter tsp food grade rose petals, fresh mint or quarter tsp dried mint, quarter tsp cumin seeds, quarter tsp coriander seeds, quarter tsp fennel seeds, seeds from two cardamom pods. I drink this regularly through the day, it helps detox where-ever in the body detoxing is needed. One could add tumeric or fresh ginger if they wanted, or other herbs, depending on issues one wishes to address.

omg, I'm in a total rush, so I'm sorry to be so perfunctory with this but:

1. Lose the gingerale with the HFCS in it--not because of the vertigo, just because HFCS is so terrible for you. If you want gingerale, there is a brand called Reed's PREMIUM Ginger Brew--and I hasten to emphasize, you have to get the one that says PREMIUM, as they have Reed's Ginger Brew, without the "premium" that, while I can't remember if it is corn sugar, and I don't think it is, has something undesirable in there, but the premium is sweetened with honey, I believe...or...what was it...I think it is honey, but it is something not bad at all. I haven't had it in a while...white clover honey, that was it! Dang, the old memory has some life left in it after all! Hosana! Anyway: best to make homemade soda, which if I had time right now, I'd go into how easy that is, but since I'm rushed: get the Reed's Ginger Brew and jettison the HFCS.

2. I can't say enough about the new positional/series of manuevers treatments for vertigo. The particular ones I was treated with are called the "Gans Maneuvers", but that is just named for the doctor who came up with them, and there are a lot of related ones. That link I gave you is a good place to start. I would call them, if your vertigo comes back (yay for 2013 and flat-rate long distance!) and ask: where can I go in my area?

Gotta go--best of luck. Been there, done that, with vertigo, and I am so blessed to have been "fixed". I mean, I know it could come back, but I know what to do/where to go if it does. I hope yours can be eradicated, too!

"If you are on one of Dr. D's diets and it isn't joyful, you aren't doing it right."- moi

If the vertigo is caused or exacerbated by fluid in the ears/blocked eustachean tubes, then chiropractic can definitely help. Adjusting the neck allows the nose to drain properly, clearing out the eustachean tubes. A decongestant such as sudafed will help with this as well- if fluid in the ears is part of the problem.

Do your best to cut out the worst "avoids" in your diet. Go ahead and use up the bread already in the house, but rice is just as cheap as bread and is fully compliant. Instead of a sandwich, pack a cold salad that includes some cooked rice. Nix the dairy as soon as possible- cow's milk products tend to be VERY mucus-forming in Os.

Peppermint, Id LOVE to know how to make homemade ginger ale, whenever you have the time. I will look to see if we carry that brand in the area, but I have never seen it. Im still experiencing some of that "swimmy" feeling, even with taking the ginger capsules I found. I will see if I can find a chiro in the area that knows about these maneuvers.

Ruthie, I have been doing my best to do just that. Im just using up whats in the house so that it doesnt go to waste. Trying to make a menu right now so I know what to go and buy on my first grocery trip I already pretty much dont do dairy so much, simply because of lactose intolerance. I use almond milk, and when I have cheese on something, its usually a sprinkle of mozzarella (thankfully, that seems to be "acceptable" if not "optimal"!) I think we even have some Sudafed, so Ill give that a shot.